Needle-threader



(No Model.)

F. H. RUSSELL. Needle Threader.

No. 242,374. Patented May 31,1881.

N. PETERS, Fhola'lilhagnphor. Washington. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT Caries.

FRANCES H. RUSSELL, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

NEEDLE-TH READER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,374, dated May 31, 1881.

Application filed December 16, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCES HARRIET RUSSELL, of New Haven, Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Needle-Threader, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to improvements in devices intended to make possible the easy and rapid threading of needles; and it consists in the devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described, and more particularly point ed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my invention, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

In these figures, A is a platform or base, to which is attached the standard D, supporting the magnifying-glass or lens C.

On the base-plate A is fastened a cushion, B, of sufficient length or extent of surface to allow of the distance between the needle thrust therein and the lens C to be considerably varied, as desired, to suit the eyes of different persons.

To the base A, which may be in the form of aringor rectangular frame to hold the cushion, or of a plate extending under said cushion, is fastened or made in one piece therewith a clamping device to fasten the threader to a table, basket, or other article. This clamp is of a well-known form, and consists of vertical piece G, horizontal arm H, and thumb-screw F. The edge of the table or basket is clamped between screw F and the base-plate or frame A. Any other form of clamp may be used, but I prefer the one shown and described.

To the outer face of the vertical piece G are attached in any desirable way two flat springarms, E E, bent up so as to be nearly parallel with G, but inclining slightly inward at their upper ends. These spring-arms are clamps for holding a flat cake of wax for the usual well-known purpose in ncedle-threaders-viz., to wax the end of the thread, so that it may be twisted to a fine point. They may be used to hold a small sponge instead of the wax. Clamps for wax on a threader are not new, and I do not claim them broadly. My device can be made either with or without them, as they either with or without an encircling ring frame therefor.

The cushion B is to be stuffed with hair or wool or other suitable substance which can be packed sufficiently hard to afford a firm sup port for the needle stuck therein. The upper surface of the cushion is made as nearly fiat as possible. In order that such cushion may be made thick and firm enough without making it too large, I intend to surround it and support its sides by a flange extending up from the base-plate or frame A, though such a flange is not necessary, and may be dispensed with. I find it best to make the cushion B of'such thickness and to place the lens at such a height on standard 1) from base A that the distance from the base to the point It on the line 9 g, drawn through the center of lens C parallel to the base, (see Fig. 2,) shall be equal to the length of a No. 1 (largest size) needle. The distance from the upper surface of the cushion to the point h on line 9 9 should be equal to one-half of the length of a No. 12 (smallest size) needle.

If desired, the standard D can be bent or inclined toward the cushion to obviate the necessity of the users stoopin g to look through the lens, as when the threader is attached to some low support. The needle can then be thrust into the cushion at an inclination to correspond. This bending can be done at time of manufacture or afterward by the user, as said standard is preferably made of metal.

The frame-work A G 11 may be made of one piece of metal cut and bent to the required shape. This would be the most economical way. The clamps E may be out from the same piece, except at their lowerends, and bent out to the shape shown, and in this case may be placed lower on vertical piece G than shown in the drawings. The standard for lens can be attached to the rest of the frame in any wellknown way.

When the threader is not attached to any support thepart G may be used as a handle, and the clamps E E should therefore be placed either above the base A on the plate G or just below it.

My invention will be generally very useful, first, to people near-sighted or with defective eyesight naturally, who could sew if they could only thread their needles second, to people with aging eyes, who could put ofl using spectacles a long time if they could have a contrivance like mine; third, to those already Wearing glasses and still requiring help in needle-threading.

My threader would also be very convenient in that it will hold needles not only at the time of threading, but when the needles are not in use. A number can be threaded at a time and left standing in the cushion for use as required.

The glass is to be made of such a curvature that the eye need not be placed very close thereto.

hat 1 claim as my invention, and desire to cover by Letters Patent, is

1. In a needle-tlneader, the combination of a magnifying-glass and a support or holder for the needle.

2. In a needle-tlueader, a stationary magnifying-glass, in combination with a holder for the needle.

3. In a llCOdlC-tlllfldl, a stationary magnifying-glass, in combination with a holder for the needle ar'anged to allow of variation in inclination and distance of the needle from the glass, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a needle-threader, a magnifying-glass and a holder for the needle, in combination with a clamping device for attaching the threader to some support.

5. In a needle-threader, the combination of a stationary magnifying-glass, a clamping device i'or attachment ot'the threader,and a holder for the needle, substantially as described.

6. In a needle-threader, the combination of a magnifying-glass and cushion, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a ncedle-tln'eader, the combination of a magnifying-glass, cushion, and clamping or attaching device.

8. In a needle'threader, the combination of glass 0, standard D, and base A, for support of needle-holder.

J. The combination of glass (3, standard D, base A, and cushion B.

10. The combination of glass (J, standard D, base A, cushion B, supporting-arm G, and clamps E E.

ll. The combination of glass 0, standard D, base-plate A, cushion B, support G, clamps E E, arm H, and set or thumb screw F.

12. In a needle-threader, the combination of a magnifying-glass, holder for needle, and supporting-arm Gr.

FRANCES HARRIET RUSSELL.

Witnesses:

SAML. THOMPSON, EFFIE S. BRADLEY. 

